European Sleeper Expands to Paris, Taking Over Berlin Route in 2026

The Dutch cooperative European Sleeper is making a major expansion into France, with its first service from Paris set to launch in 2026. The company will take over the Paris-Berlin night train route, launching its new service on March 26, 2026. This move fills the gap left by ÖBB’s Nightjet, which is being cancelled next month due to the end of French subsidies, a move that had been seen as a setback for the sleeper train revival.
European Sleeper, which has carried over 230,000 passengers on its Berlin-Brussels-Prague routes since its 2023 launch, is betting on a high-capacity model for this new flagship line. Co-founder Chris Engelsman announced plans for a 12-14 coach train, accommodating 600-700 passengers, all dedicated to the Berlin route. This is a significant increase from the split Nightjet service.
The new service will run three times a week, with evening departures from Paris Gare du Nord on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and return journeys from Berlin on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This reliable schedule is designed to appeal to both leisure and business travelers.
A key strategic change will be the new route via Brussels, which is currently being finalized with national infrastructure managers. This path will create a new sleeper corridor, linking the French, Belgian, and German capitals, and departing from the Nightjet’s previous route through eastern France.
While the company is expanding, it is sticking to its “no-frills” model. The rolling stock will be 1990s German-rented coaches, described as a comfort-level match for the Nightjet. However, passengers will have to forgo a dining car at launch, as Engelsman confirmed the “challenge” of profitability makes it too costly to operate.